The Australis-OSCAR-5 and its Stanley tape antennae. (Credit: Courtesy Richard Tonkin) |
The Australian Geographic website features an article on Australia’s first amateur satellite.
They say:
On 23 January 1970, Australia's first amateur radio satellite was launched. Built in 1966, Australis-OSCAR-5 was the first amateur radio satellite constructed outside of the United States.
On 23 January 1970, Australia's first amateur radio satellite was launched. Built in 1966, Australis-OSCAR-5 was the first amateur radio satellite constructed outside of the United States.
In the 1950s and '60s amateur radio was a popular hobby.
The Melbourne University Astronautical Society began tracking amateur
radio satellites, which developed into a project with the Melbourne
University Radio Club to build their own amateur radio satellite.
The US Air Force and NASA provided free launches
opportunities when there was spare capacity available on the launch of
their larger satellites. In Australia, however, the OSCAR-5 had to wait
several years for this type of launching opportunity to arise.
Unfortunately, the delay meant that it was beaten to the
status of Australia's first satellite by the Weapons Research
Establishment's satellite, WRESAT, which was launched from the Woomera
rocket range in November 1967.
Read the full Australian Geographic article at
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/australias-first-amateur-radio-satellite-launched.htm
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/australias-first-amateur-radio-satellite-launched.htm
(Source: Australian Geographic via Southgate Amateur Radio News)
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